1998 DODGE DURANGO Complaints

LIGHT SWITCH, WHEN SWITCHING FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM THIS RESULTS IN NO LIGHTS AT ALL. DROVE OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A FIELD. *TR

1998 DODGE DURANGO. 27500 MILES. YES 27500 MILES. UPPER BALL JOINTS BOTH SIDES SHOT $321.00 TO REPAIR. RIGHT SIDE WAS EXTREMELY BAD. *TR

BUSHINGS ON STEERING SHAFT BEARING MADE FROM CHEAP MATERIALS WEAR QUICKLY CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CHRYSLER DOES NOT CURRENTLY PRODUCE A PART TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND NO AFTERMARKET PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

I OWN A 1998 DODGE DURANGO AND BACK IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR I REPLACED THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS DUE TO FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD AN AWFUL SQUEAKY NOISE AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS LUCKY TO STILL BE ALIVE AS THE BALLJOINTS WERE EXTREMELY WORN OUT DUE TO BE AN UNGREASEABLE TYPE. THE REPAIR COST ME $650. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 3MONTHS SINCE THE REPAIR IN WHICH THE BALLJOINTS WERE REPLACED WITH DEALER PARTS AND ONCE AGAIN, THE SQUEAKY SOUND IS BACK, I'VE GONE BACK TO THE MECHANIC ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT ONCE AGAIN, THE BALLJOINTS HAVE FAILED!! ANOTHER $650 TO FIX, THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!! DODGE MUST BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FACT THAT THESE BALLJOINTS CONTINUOUSLY FAIL AND THEY MUST COME UP WITH A GREASEABLE TYPE. IN THIS ECONOMY IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SPEND $650 EVERY 2-3 MONTHS ON BALLJOINTS!! AT THIS RATE, THERE WILL COME A POINT WHERE THE TIRES WILL FALL OFF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE A DEATH BEING AS THESE JOINTS DON'T LAST AS LONG AS THEY SHOULD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED GREATER FORCE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. SUDDENLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED WHEN BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V341000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES). THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL; HOWEVER, IT WAS INSUFFICIENT IN REMEDYING THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

MY MECHANIC NOTICE UNABLE TO KEEP TIRES. WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 2 KIDS NOTICED EXTREMELY LOOSE ACTION WHILE DRIVING, CAR UNABLE TO STAY ON ROAD. MECHANIC CHECKED AND UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE RESEARCH AND NOTICED NO RECALL WITH THESE VEHICLES. LOTS OF COMPLAINTS SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER FOR THERE LACK OF MAKING A SAFE VEHICLE. *TR

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN THE LAST WEEK OF NOVEMBER '08. I HAD MY BRAKES DONE BY AN INDIVIDUAL MAYBE TWO WEEKS LATER. A COUPLE OF DAY LATER DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I STARTED HEARING A REAL LOUD IRON GRINDING NOISE. THE NEXT DAY I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AAMCO, WHO TOLD ME MY CALIPER PINS HAD CAME OUT, AND I WOULD NEED A NEW STEERING KNUCKLE AND A SET OF CALIPER PINS.THE TRUCK WAS FIXED COSTING ME $525 (NOTING: MECHANIC USED A USED STEERING KNUCKLE.) NOW 2 MONTHS AFTER THOSE REPAIRS I NEED A WHEEL SPINDLE, AND CALIPER BOLTS BECAUSE THE THREADING HAVE STRIPPED AWAY AND SOMETHING TOTALLY UNRELATED A NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. COSTING ME $580. I WAS TOLD THAT BY FIRESTONE WHO TOLD ME I NEEDED NEW TIE RODS AND THEN CORRECTED THEMSELVES BY TELLING ME I NEEDED A NEW STEERING KNUCKLE - WHO WOULDN'T EVEN WORK ON MY CAR BECAUSE OF LIABILITY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE COULD LITERALLY FALL OFF DUE TO LACK OF SUPPORT AND CAUSE A MAJOR OR SERIOUS ACCIDENT, AND THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE IT BACK TO AAMCO. I DIDN'T WANT TO BECAUSE I FELT AAMCO SHOULD HAVE FIXED THIS THE FIRST TIME. BUT AFTER FIGHTING WITH THEM AND READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS MAYBE THEY'RE NOT IN THE WRONG. *TR

HEARD METAL TO METAL RUBBING ON 2/2/09 NOW ON 2/6/09 HUB BEARING BROKE RIGHT SIDE.... WHEEL IS TILED IN TO WHEEL WELL. *TR

WE BOUGHT A 98' DURANGO W/ 123K MILES & AFTER DRIVING IT LESS THAN 500 MILES I BEGAN TO NOTICE A LOUD-REPEATING NOISE "THUD...THUD.." COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WALL. THEN I BEGAN TO NOTICE EXTREME STEERING PROBLEMS SO I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED IT FURTHER. I JACKED UP THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED A LOT OF "PLAY" IN THE FRONT TIRE. I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO "WOBBLE' BACK AND FORTH AND THE LUG NUTS WERE STILL SECURED. I CONTACTED A VERY REPUTABLE MECHANIC (3RD GENERATION RACE CAR DRIVER TOO!) AND HE ADVISED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MASSIVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS FAILING ON THE DURANGO'S , BUT THEY ONLY WILL FIX BACK TO 2000' MODEL YEAR. WELL, ANY REASONABLE AUTO COMPANY THAT KNOWS IT HAS A FAULTY PART SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF ITS PEOPLE....IF NOT, THEN THEY ARE LIABLE FOR CONTINUING TO ALLOW A PRODUCT THAT ENDANGERS THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER, ITS OCCUPANTS & OTHER MOTORIST'S/CITIZENS-WHO EXPECT THEIR SAFETY TO BE LOOKED UPON, NOT "INVESTIGATED INTERNALLY." I HAVE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR +13 YEARS, AND AS A RESULT I HAVE WORKED MANY VEHICLE ACCIDENTS (SOME CAUSING DEATH) THAT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE-UNTIL NOW! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE...AND NOT JUST "ONLY 2000' YEAR MODELS AND UP" THING. DO THE RIGHT THING, BECAUSE ITS THE RIGHT THING TO DO! *TR

THE DRIVERS SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH AS IF IT IS LOOSE IF NOT IN THE FULLY FORWARD OR FULLY REARWARD POSITIONS. I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET FROM OTHER DODGE OWNERS THAT IT IS DUE TO THE SEAT RAILS (OR TRACKS) BEING CRACKED. *TR